Boca Wants More Influence Over Land Use

BOCA RATON — City Council members would like to have a say in Delray Beach and Palm Beach County land-use decisions, but are wary of letting these jurisdictions have a say in Boca Raton`s.

County officials have proposed creation of ``impact zones`` along borders between Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach and between these cities and neighboring unincorporated areas. Plans for ``significant`` land-use changes in these zones would be submitted to adjacent jurisdictions for comment.

During a workshop discussion Monday, council members said they welcome the chance to influence decisions by other bodies, particularly the County Commission.

``Our (traffic) problems in the city have been largely due to zoning actions by the county,`` council member Al Edmunds said.

Boca Raton`s proposed zones of influence extend north to Linton Boulevard in Delray Beach and as far west as Florida`s Turnpike. Several council members said they would like the zones expanded, particularly to the west -- perhaps as far as U.S. 441.

But they also wondered whether the proposal, which gives no jurisdiction a veto over its neighbor`s decisions, envisions anything more than ``jawboning.``

``I can`t think of one instance where anything Boca Raton has said has done any good whatsoever before the county,`` council member Richard Robinson said.

``If we have no recourse other than complaining . . . I think this is a waste of time,`` Edmunds said. ``I would like to see something here that would be a binding commitment. I`d like to work to extend the clout of south county cities.``

``(If) it doesn`t have any teeth it`s not going to do any good,`` Mayor William Konrad said.

Edmunds suggested that two jurisdictions be allowed to overrule a third`s decision. But the more council members thought about a veto power, they said, the more they feared getting bitten themselves.

``I`m not sure I`d vote to give this any teeth,`` Konrad said. ``I`d rather run our own affairs. It all looks great on the surface, but when they start taking away municipal rights and handing them to someone else. . . .``

In the end, council members informally endorsed the requirement for an ``extraordinary vote`` to overrule its neighbors.

Under this scheme, Boca Raton, for example, could not ignore neighbors` objections to a rezoning proposal unless four of five council members, rather than a simple majority, agree. This arrangement was considered by the county but dropped from the final proposal because of possible legal complications.

The council instructed City Attorney Frank Bartolone to research the matter before it makes a final decision on the county`s proposal.

The council also discussed asking voters to approve the issue of $6 million in bonds to pay for restoration of North Beach and expansion of Spanish River Park. The election would be held March 11 if the necessary resolution passes Tuesday night.

Finance Director Susan Miller said passage of the bond issue would add $1.32 to the average homeowner`s annual tax bill. ``Average`` in this case would be the owner of a home valued at $100,000 and eligible for the $25,000 homestead exemption.

Arguing for the restoration project, City Engineer John Carroll told council members that 40 to 60 feet of beach have been lost to erosion since 1979. With that came a steady drop in public use.

The project would not only replace much of the lost sand, but rebuild the ecologically fragile dunes, Carroll said. But he added that erosion would claim 40 to 50 percent of the restored sand within seven years.

cities.``

``(If) it doesn`t have any teeth it`s not going to do any good,`` Mayor William Konrad said.

Edmunds suggested that two jurisdictions be allowed to overrule a third`s decision. But the more council members thought about a veto power, they said, the more they feared getting bitten themselves.

``I`m not sure I`d vote to give this any teeth,`` Konrad said. ``I`d rather run our own affairs. It all looks great on the surface, but when they start taking away municipal rights and handing them to someone else. . . .``

In the end, council members informally endorsed the requirement for an ``extraordinary vote`` to overrule its neighbors.

Under this scheme, Boca Raton, for example, could not ignore neighbors` objections to a rezoning proposal unless four of five council members, rather than a simple majority, agree. This arrangement was considered by the county but dropped from the final proposal because of possible legal complications.

The council instructed City Attorney Frank Bartolone to research the matter before it makes a final decision on the county`s proposal.

The council also discussed asking voters to approve the issue of $6 million in bonds to pay for restoration of North Beach and expansion of Spanish River Park. The election would be held March 11 if the necessary resolution passes Tuesday night.

Finance Director Susan Miller said passage of the bond issue would add $1.32 to the average homeowner`s annual tax bill. ``Average`` in this case would be the owner of a home valued at $100,000 and eligible for the $25,000 homestead exemption.

Arguing for the restoration project, City Engineer John Carroll told council members that 40 to 60 feet of beach have been lost to erosion since 1979. With that came a steady drop in public use.

The project would not only replace much of the lost sand, but rebuild the ecologically fragile dunes, Carroll said. But he added that erosion would claim 40 to 50 percent of the restored sand within seven years.